 In 1964, a flood resulting from the failure of the Hell Hole Dam caused the old state Route 49 bridge to collapse. Placer County is currently in the process of removing the bridge debris from the riverbed, a project that was spurred by community advocates and local leaders fighting for state funding.
The reason the bridge debris has been in the river for so long is because planners were anticipating the construction of the Auburn Dam just downstream. If it had been built, the bridge debris would be at the bottom of the resulting reservoir, and the American River canyon would be a lake instead.
Learn more about the American River Bridge Debris Removal Project
 On Aug. 25, 1961, Dave Brewer of Auburn set the speed record for the Model A Gas Roadster Class at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He powered through to 195.64 miles per hour, breaking his own former world record of 193 mph.
According to the Aug. 31, 1961, Auburn Journal, “Brewer was at the wheel of a 1929 Model A Roadster powered by a 1956 Chrysler engine, a 671 GMC blower and special cams and rods. The vehicle was built by Brewer and Tony Arellano, also of Auburn, and is owned jointly by Vic Colvin and George Douglas, both former Auburn residents.”
Arellano, who owned and operated Porter Welding Service in Auburn, estimated that the engine they built provided 450 horsepower. Dave Brewer worked for the State Division of Highways before serving a two-year term in the military. In 1963, he returned to his job at the State Division of Highways, but not before racing once again at Bonneville Salt Flats, where he picked up two trophies.
Photo: Tony Arellano (far right) as a young boy at the 1948 Gold Rush Parade
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council
Building Board of Appeals
Civil Service Commission
Colfax Cemetery District
County Parks Commission
Deferred Compensation Committee
Economic Development
BoardFish & Game Commission
Gold Run Cemetery Committee
Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council
Historical Advisory Board
Housing Development Advisory Taskforce
In Home Support Services Advisory Committee
Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention
Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council
Historical Advisory Board
Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council
Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council
Central Municipal Advisory Council
Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council
North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council
Placer County Behavioral Health Advisory Board
Placer County Child Care Advisory Council
Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission
Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council
Solid Waste Local Task Force
Tahoe Basin Design Review Committee (DRC)Veterans Advisory Council
Wastewater Advisory Committee
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: NASCAR First Responders Night Auburn: Farmers Market, Gold Country Fair North Lake Tahoe: Music on the Beach, Kings Beach, Northstar Summer Music Series, Northstar Saturday Skate Nights, ParkFit Fridays, Concerts on Commons Beach, Tunes on Tap Sunset Concert Series, Tahoe City Summer Concert Series
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau North Tahoe Community Alliance Tahoe City Downtown Association The Arts Council of Placer County Placer Valley Tourism PlacerGROWN Placer Wine Trail
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